Merry Making: A Christmas Recap

Does anyone else get a little down when Christmas is over and it's time to put away all the decorations? After a full month of lights and treats and carols, it's always so sad to see it all go. I'm hanging on to the holidays as long as I possibly can (go away, New Years!), so I thought I would revisit our Christmas festivities from last week and enjoy them all over again.

Mom has this "Fruitcakes Welcome" sign in her kitchen,
which makes me feel like I'm in good company.

She also set up a cute little holiday coffee bar, because who doesn't want the gift of caffeine?

The breakfast table is all aglow with Clark Griswold's house from everyone's favorite yuletide film: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Of course, cousin Eddie's RV is parked out front.

If you're more into A Christmas Story, well, we had that, too. Can you spot the BB gun?

Ralphie's house, complete with the leg lamp, the not-so-jolly Santa from Higbee's department store, Flick and his tongue on that flagpole, and the infamous pink bunny suit.

I happen to know someone who is a big fan. Careful, Clint: you'll shoot your eye out!

Homemade eggnog in moose mugs is one of our most delicious Christmas eve traditions.

We're a pretty festive group, right down to the dogs.

Just a couple of Santa's little helpers. Speaking of which...

He CAME! Santa was running a little late this year and I almost got nervous,
but I knew I was on the nice list. (Whew.)

You know you've been good when your presents are too big to get your arms around them all.

All those boxes turned out to be this artwork, rug, waste basket, and silver metal wall medallions for my powder room. Santa nailed it, y'all.

Christmas dinner wouldn't be the same without HoneyBaked ham. Bonus points for the cranberry apple crumble, Irish potato casserole, and broccoli cheese wild rice bake. Save room, because there's coconut cake for dessert.

We spent Christmas afternoon watching Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, nibbling on cookies and sipping cider, and once it got dark, we headed out to look at Christmas lights. Don't you love it when you find those houses that really go over-the-top?

Basking in the glow of some truly fantastic lights.
There were so many we couldn't fit them all in one picture! 

We did our best not to miss any way to celebrate the Christmas season, from tacky sweaters to visits from Santa, snacks and sips, and decorations everywhere your little heart could possibly desire. Before we left my parents' house, we made sure to finish off the festivities with our traditional viewing of the classic movie Holiday Inn  (Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire will keep you in the holiday spirit, just in case you were wondering). Until next year, we have enough memories (and leftovers) to leave us holly and jolly for a while to come.

Happy holidays, from our jolly bunch! 

Decking Our New Halls

Since we moved into a new house over Labor Day weekend in September, we have had the fun of decking new halls for the holidays this season. Even though we've only been here for a few months, it's starting to feel like home (a Christmas tree always helps with that, in my opinion). There are still a few things I'm looking forward to adding to our decorations next year and beyond, but I think we are off to a good start. Let me show you around a bit:

Our new halls, decked.

Santa, if you don't want to use our chimney, the front door is ready and waiting.

Clint is my outdoor illumination expert. I think he's off to a good start for our first Christmas.

A Christmas tree in the study makes it a cozy room to sit and read.
I just wish I actually had the time to sit and read during this crazy season!

I look forward to getting out my Lenox holiday china and setting the table
with my silver every year. It makes it feel like the holidays.

You know I like a little glitz in my life; this is so festive and timeless.

My kitchen is chock-full of Christmas cheer;
I just wish it was too cute for cooking (so far, that excuse hasn't worked).

It took us a little while, but we finally found a dining table that we liked.

It's nice to have a cozy place to eat dinner (other than our couch, ha ha).
Spode Christmas tree dinnerware is a tradition for our family, too.

Believe it or not, there is a store inside the Dollywood theme park with beautiful home decor and accessories. My parents bought me this arrangement during a recent trip
as a holiday housewarming gift.

The family room is waiting for a Christmas movie viewing.
So far this Christmas, we've watched Home Alone, Elf, Meet Me in St. Louis, and Deck the Halls.
I'm saving some of our favorites for last.

We are a couple with a Willie Nelson connection: not only was a Willie concert our second date, we got engaged onstage at a Willie Nelson concert a little over a year later.
I gave Clint this ornament for our wedding anniversary December 1.

Tillman Hall is the most iconic building on Clemson campus,
and I love to decorate with my miniature version.
It feels like Christmas in my happy place.

Our master bedroom--isn't this where visions of sugar plums should dance through our heads?
We'll settle for more sleep, sugar plums optional.

This sleepy Santa was originally in my guestroom, but I kidnapped him for my bedside table.
Who doesn't need to wake up to Santa in fuzzy reindeer slippers?

From our new house to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!